THE “GLORIOUS”
REVOLUTION OF 1688
MAIN HEADINGS
WHAT WAS IT AND WHY WAS IT
GLORIOUS?
THE REIGN OF JAMES II
THE REVOUTIONARY SETTLEMENT
THE HISTORICAL MEANING OF THIS
REVOLUTION
WHAT WAS IT AND WHY
“GLORIOUS”
Deposition of
reigning monarch:
that is, James II
Who did the dirty deed?
William of Orange;
Prince of Holland;
husband of Mary
Stuart, daughter of
James II
But he was invited
by a group of
aristocrats and
others
William and Mary: the
happy couple
What was it… again?
Bloodless
And, most
importantly, it was
glorious because it
was seen as
defending
Protestant Liberty
against Catholic,
and Absolutist
tyranny
The Reign of James II
1685-1688
James a Catholic
England a Protestant country
Catholicism seen as religion of arbitrary
power
The Reign of James II
James’ policies:
To be independent of Parliament
z To restore civil rights to Catholics
z To expand the royal prerogative
z To suborn the judiciary, universities and
local governments
z To demand the obedience of the Church of
England
z
Thus, the man had to go;
especially as a child was
born on 10 June 1688
But what to do when he
had gone?
The Revolutionary
Settlement
William and Mary declared joint
monarchs
The Declaration of Right
Toleration Act
Presenting the
Declaration of Rights
The Meaning of the
Revolution
Glorious but Conservative
Designed to preserve existing religion and
institutions
But ended the long standing struggle
between monarch and Parliament in favor of
Parliament.
No possibility now of Royal Absolutism—in
contrast to those unfortunate Europeans.